Drinking And Driving: Culture, Infrastructure And The Law

Kansas City weighs in on getting home safely after nights out and about, possibly spent drinking.

Credit Arriva436 / Creative Commons

In recent years, we've heard a lot more about texting and driving than we have about drinking and driving. But drunk driving is still prevalent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol-impaired car crashes account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

As spring revelry leads to late nights out, Central Standard asks whether Kansas Citians are making plans to get home safely, and if not, why not?

We explored several cultural factors contributing to drinking and driving. The discussion also investigated the role of infrastructure and the law in shaping and responding to this behavior. A call to listeners elicited input from people who had lived in Germany, Wisconsin and elsewhere, offering a sense of how Kansas City's attitude holds up by comparison.

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Drinking and driving gets a lot of media attention. Radio, television and print advertising have raised awareness of the problem. There are even social media sites that post DUI checkpoints in the region. Despite all the attention drunk drivers are still on the road, and being caught at an alarming rate.

We want to know your ideas on how to combat driving under the influence.

Tell KCUR:What services should be provided to curb drinking and driving in metro Kansas City?